Dear ELC Provider community:
With the heightened concern around COVID-19, the ELC will be implementing a telework policy (work at home) for our entire workforce effective Monday, March 16
th
. Starting Monday, the office will be closed to staff and visitors until further notice. We expect this to be temporary (hopefully no longer than 2 weeks) and will keep you posted on when our staff are back in the office.
While our physical office will be closed, we are open for business. Providers will continue to be paid on time per normal business operations and staff will be available to respond to emails and calls.
There are some changes in operations. Until further notice:
- The PLAN meeting that was scheduled for March 18 at 10 am is canceled. The Q&A with Shan Goff, Executive Director from the Office of Early Learning (OEL), will be rescheduled for a later date.
- All CLASS assessments that have been scheduled for School Readiness providers will be on hold. Providers who have been contacted to update their staff and classroom information in the QPS should still do so at https://qps.floridaearlylearning.com/
- There will be No onsite visits to schools by Coaching and Inclusion Specialists or our Provider relations staff. Resources and support can be provided via email and phone.
- There will be No in-person trainings. The ELC is planning to facilitate some web-based trainings. Further information will be sent when available.
- Our office is closed to parent walk-in traffic. We are still processing redeterminations and new enrollments through the portal. Our teams will be able to serve parent by phone and email.
Based on a previous communication, a few providers have asked us: “When should we close our school?”
The ELC cannot advise you on that decision. Only Child Care Licensing can advise you to close or it is a business decision that you will make on your own.
Per previous communication, OEL has provided guidance if a child care site has to close due to potential virus exposure:
- School Readiness Provider: If child care providers are forced to close because of the virus, Coalitions may continue to reimburse providers for child care services (given the children are not being served by another SR provider) for as long as the emergency dictates that the site be closed.
- VPK Provider: Coalitions may continue to reimburse the providers for up to five (5) instructional days. Beyond this, VPK providers would have to make up those instructional days lost due to closure.
- Extended Absences: There are currently no special provision regarding extended absences of SR of VPK children resulting from potential exposure to the virus. As a reminder, the SR rule allows a child to be absent for up to 10 days (3 unexcused absences and 7 excused absences) per calendar month. For VPK, a provide may be reimbursed for the full FTE if a child is absent no more than 20% of the instructional days of the month.
- Temporary closures and absence allowances beyond what is allowed in the SR and VPK rules will be addressed on a case by case basis (until OEL receives further instructions from DOE).
The health and safety of our employees and those we serve is paramount. While we are migrating our staff to work from home, our goal is to make this a seamless transition. If you have any questions or concerns, please continue to reach out to your ELC employee contact.
Stay safe,
ELC of Broward
